Day 312 - Sweet Red Pepper Cornbread

Of course we're watching the Patriots play the Broncos, so to make an easy informal dinner I made the Taco Pockets with a salad and this cornbread.

I adapted this from my Martha Stewart Living Cookbook,p. 562; author, Martha Stewart; publisher, Clarkson Potter Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, an imprint of Random House, Inc.; ISBN 978-0-307-39382-1.

Sweet Red Pepper Cornbread - serves 8

1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup flour + 1 teaspoon
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
*1 teaspoon baking soda
*1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 sweet red pepper, diced small
*the recipe called for 2 teaspoons of baking soda, but I misread the recipe, hence the 1 teaspoon baking soda.  Use the 2 teaspoons baking soda*


Place rack in center of oven and preheat to 425 degrees F.
Put shortening into an 8-inch cast-iron skillet and place into oven.

Place red pepper in a small bowl and place in oven for 2 minutes to warm slightly.  Add 1 teaspoon of flour and completely toss; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together remaining cup of flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, and baking powder.

 Combine pepper and cornmeal mixture.  Mix thoroughly.

In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs.  Add to cornmeal mixture.
Mix until just combined.  Mixture should be a little lumpy.

Carefully pour into the heated skillet.

Bake for 25 - 30 minutes.

I rate everything I bake on a scale of 1-4 with 4 being the best and this Sweet Red Pepper Cornbread earned 2 rolling pins.
It was a little dry and I think I messed it up because of the baking soda/powder confusion.
I was too preoccupied with the football game that was going to be on.
I need to focus more!
I think it could have been good.  I did like the taste of it overall, especially the taste of the lard.
Haha, I guess I like the taste of melted shortening.
I only left it in the oven for 25 minutes, but as you can tell, it became a little browner than I think it should have, especially the bottom.
Next time, I'll keep an eye on it when it's been in for about 20 minutes and I also think making it the day an important football game isn't on. (wink wink)

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